Sanitary napkin holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for a sanitary napkin in the form of a cloth bag that can be folded flat when empty and which can be expanded when a sanitary napkin is inserted therein. A closure flap extends from the upper edge of a rear panel of the bag which is foldable across the top of the bag and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel of the bag and can be secured in place by interengageable fastening strips mounted on the closure flap and on the front of the bag. The bag may be constructed from a single piece of cloth folded to define front, rear and side panels cooperable to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin. The bag is constructed so that it can be adhesively secured together with flap folds and overlapping edge portions of panels to provide an economical, efficient construction.

United States Patent I [72] Inventor Mary Henning Jones 935 Gordan Lane, Birmingham, Mich. 48009 [21] Appl. No. 821,031 [22] Filed May 1. 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [54] SANITARY NAPKIN HOLDER 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 150/7, 150/ 1 [51] Int. Cl 365d 29/00, B65d 33/24 [50] Field of Search 150/7, 42

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,926 9/1924 Gunter l50/7X 2,528,192 10/1950 Urban 150/7 3,023,793 3/1962 Commons 3,203,551 8/1965 VanLoan Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Barnard, McGlynn & Reising ABSTRACT: A holder for a sanitary napkin in the form of a cloth bag that can be folded flat when empty and which can be expanded when a sanitary napkin is inserted therein. A closure flap extends from the upper edge of a rear panel of the bag which is foldable across the top of the bag and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel of the bag and can be secured in place by interengageable fastening strips mounted on the closure flap and on the front of the bag. The bag may be constructed from a single piece of cloth folded to define front, rear and side panels cooperable to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin. The bag is constructed so that it can be adhesively secured together with flap folds and overlapping edge portions of panels to provide an economical, efficient construction.

PATENTEU M26197! 3557353 K YFmy Azzzzz dzzes ard I TTORNEYS 1 SANITARY NAPKIN HOLDER This invention relates generally to cloth containers and is particularly concerned with a cloth container particularly adapted to serve as a holder for a sanitary napkin to be carried in a purse or the like.

It is generally necessary for users of sanitary napkins to carry one or more sanitary napkins in a purse or the like so that a napkin will be available when needed. Sanitary napkins are usually marketed in boxes or containers that are too large to be carried around by a person and are too large to be fitted into an ordinary purse. Moreover, users of sanitary napkins, particularly teenagers, are reluctant to expose sanitary napkins to others each time they open their purse, or when it is necessary to remove some of the contents of the purse in public. It is not infrequent that articles and substances carried in the purse, such as cosmetics, or simply dust, soil an unprotected sanitary napkin.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a holder suitable for containing one or two sanitary napkins that can be conveniently carried in the purse of the user.

A further object is to provide a holder for a sanitary napkin that will protect the sanitary napkin from being soiled by other articles carried in the purse and that will provide an attractive and sanitary container for sanitary napkins and will prevent the sanitary napkins from being exposed to the view of others each time it is necessary to open the purse.

Still another object is to provide a holder for a sanitary napkin in the form of a cloth bag having a closure flap that can be detachably secured in a closed position to completely enclose a sanitary napkin received in the cloth bag.

Still another object is to provide a holder for one or two sanitary napkins of inexpensive construction capable of being manufactured in large quantities at a high rate of production, and which can be made in a variety of colors.

In carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, a sanitary napkin holder according to the present invention comprises a cloth bag having a front panel and a rear panel joined together at the bottom edges. Side panels extend between the side edges of the front and rear panels to define with the front and rear panels a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin. Extending from the upper edge of the rear panel is a closure flap which is foldable across the top of the recess defined by the front, rear and side panels and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel. The closure flap may be secured in a closed position by a pair of interengageable fasteners preferably in the form of fastener strips including a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks mounted and a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops mounted therein engageable by the hooks. The base of one of the strips is secured to the front surface of the front panel at a location spaced below the upper edge of the front panel, and the base of the other of the strips is secured to the inner surface of the closure flap near the outer end thereof.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a sanitary napkin holder embodying the invention with the closure flap shown in its open position; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sanitary napkin holder of FIG. 1 with the closure flap in the closed position.

The drawings illustrate a sanitary napkin holder comprising a cloth bag having a front panel I2 and a rear panel 14 joined together at their bottom edges. Side panels 16 and 18 extend between the side edges and 17 of the front and rear panels, respectively, to define a recess 20 for receiving a sanitary napkin 21. A closure flap 22 extends from the upper edge of the rear panel, the closure flap being foldable across the top of recess 18 and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel. A pair of interengageable fastener strips permit the closure to be detachably secured in a closed position. As shown in the drawings, the fastener strips comprise a pair of flexible fastener strips, one of which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the closure flap and the other of which is adhesively secured to the front surface of the front panel. The pair of interengageable fastener strips include a strip 24 having a base 26 of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks 28 mounted thereon and a strip 25 having a base 30 of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops 32 mounted thereon engageable by the hooks 28. The fastener strips may be of the type sold under the trade name VELCRO and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 of Nov. 2l, I961. The base 30 of one of the strips 25 is secured to the front surface of the front panel 12 at a location spaced below-the upper edge 33 of the front panel, and the base 26 of the other of the strips 24 is secured to the inner surface of the closure flap 22 near the outer end thereof. Fastener strips 24 and 25 are thus engageable with each other to detachably secure the closure flap 22 in a closed position to enclose a sanitary napkin 21 received in recess 18.

As shown in FIG. I, the cloth bag 10 further includes an extension strip 35 extending from the upper edge 36 of side panel 16 and an extension strip 37 extending from the upper edge 38 of the side panel 18. Side panel 35 also extends inwardly from the side edge 39 of closure flap 22 with its outer end secured against the inner surface of the closure flap adjacent one comer thereof, and the extension strip 37 similarly extending from a side edge 40 of the closure flap 22 to the outer end of the closure flap with its outer end secured against the inner surface of the closure flap adjacent the opposite outer comer thereof, The reinforcing fold 42 may be provided on the outer end of the closure flap which is folded against the inner surface of the closure flap and overlies the outer ends of the extension strips 35 and 37, the base 26 of the fastener strip 26 overlying at least a portion of the reinforcing fold 42 and the ends of the extension strips 35 and 37. Preferably, the reinforcing fold 42 is secured against the inner surface of the closure flap and the ends of the extension strips by a suitable adhesive. Similarly, the base 26 of the fastener strip 24 is preferably adhesively secured to the inner surface of the closure flap 22.

As shown in the drawings, each of the side panels 16 and I8 is pleated to include a pair of folds. For example, the side panel 16 includes a pair of folds. For example, the side panel 16 includes a pair of folds 16a and 16b, fold 16a extending from the side edge 17 of the rear panel and the other fold 16b extends from the side edge 15 of the front panel to permit the side panels extend when a sanitary-napkin is inserted into the recess 18. The extension strip 35 extends from the upper edge of the fold 16a.

As illustrated in the drawing, the front panel 12 includes two portions 12a and 12b with overlapping edges 12c and 12d at substantially the midportion of the front panel, the overlapping edges 12c and 12d being secured together to define a seam. The overlapping edges 12c and 12d are preferably secured together by a suitable adhesive or glue. The bag 10 further includes a bottom flap 44 extending from the bottom edge of the rear panel and folded against the lower front surface of the front panel and secured to the front surface of the front panel 12 by a suitable adhesive or glue.

The bag 10 can be made up of a single piece of cloth which may be cotton or silk of any color including prints. The material can be cut into a single piece folded into the configuration shown in the drawings and glued together after being pressed into shape. The construction shown is capable of being manufactured by a conventional envelope-making machine or on a suitable pants or shirt making machine and kins sold retail or the bags canbe sold individually over the counter.

While a specific form of the invention is described in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown, alternative constructions, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention. being apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A sanitary napkin holder comprising: a cloth bag having a front panel and a rear panel joined together at their bottom edges; side panels extending between the side edges of the front and rear panels to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin; a closure flap extending from the upper edge of the rear panel, said closure flap being foldable across the top of said recess and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel; a pair of interengageable fastener strips including a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks mounted thereon and a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops mounted thereon engageable by said hooks, the base of one of said strips being secured to the front surface of said front panel at a location spaced below the upper edge of said front panel, and the base of the other of said strips being secured to the inner surface of said closure flap near the outer end thereof, said fastener strips being engageable with each other to detachably secure said closure flap in a closed position to enclose a sanitary napkin recieved in said recess. I i

2. A sanitary napkin holder as clairned in claim 1 further including an extension strip extending from the upper edge of each of said side panels and from the'associated side edge of the closure flap to the outer end of the closure flap with its outer end secured against the inner surface of said closure flap adjacent a corner thereof.

3. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 2 further including a reinforcing fold on the outer end of the closure flap folded against the inner surface of the closure flap and overlying the outer ends of said extension strips, the base of said other fastener stn'p overlying at least a portion of said reinforcing fold and the ends of said extension strips.

4. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said side panels is pleated to include a pair of folds, one of which extends from the side edge of the rear panel and the other of which extends from the side edge of the front panel to permit said side panels to be folded flat when said bag is empty, and to permit said side panels to'extend when a sanitary napkin is inserted into said recess, said extension strip extending from the upper edge of said one fold.

5. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said front panel includes two portions with overlapping edges at substantially the midportion of said front panel, said over lapping edges being secured together to define a scam.

6. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 5 further including a bottom flap extending from the bottom edge of said rear panel and folded against the lower front surface of said front panel.

7. A sanitary napkin holder comprising: a cloth bag made up ofa single piece of fabric folded to define a rear panel, a side panel extending from each side edge of the rear panel, a front panel portion extending from the side edge of each side panel opposite the side edge ,ofthe rear panel. said front panel portions having overlapping edge portions adhesively secured together to define a front panel having a seam defined by said overlapping portions, a bottom flat extending from the bottom of the rear panel and adhesively secured to the lower front surface of the front panel such that said front, rear and side panels cooperate to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin, a closure flap extending from the upper edge of said rear panel, an extension extending from the upper edge of each of said side panels and from the associated side edge of said closure flap with the outer end of each of said extension strips adhesively secured against the inner surface of the closure flap adjacent an outer corner thereof, a reinforcing fold on the outer end ofthe closure flap folded against the inner surface of the closure flap and overlapping the outer ends of the extension strips and being adhesively secured to said inner surface of the closure flap, and interengageable fastening means on the inner surface of said closure flap and the front surface of said front panel such that the closure flap is foldable across the upper end of said recess and over a portion of the front surface of said front panel in detachable engagement therewith to enclose a sanitary napkin received in said recess.

8. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interengageable fastening means comprises a air of flexible fastening strips one of which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the closure flap and the other of which is adhesively secured to the front surface of the front panel.

9. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of said flexible fastening strips comprises a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks mounted thereon, and the other of said flexible fastening strips comprises a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops mounted thereon and engageable by said hooks.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,557,853 Dated January 26, 1971 Invent r(s) Mary Henning Jones It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 49, after "mounted" insert --thereon--. Column 2, lines d-42, delete "For example, the side panel 16 includes a pair of folds. Column 2, line 46, after "panels" insert --to be folded flat when the bag is empty, and to permit the side panels to--. Column t, line 16 "flat" should be --flap--. Column 4, line 16, after bottom" insert --edge-- Signed and sealed this 20th day of July 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'I'CHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A sanitary napkin holder comprising: a cloth bag having a front panel and a rear panel joined together at their bottom edges; side panels extending between the side edges of the front and rear panels to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin; a closure flap extending from the upper edge of the rear panel, said closure flap being foldable across the top of said recess and over a portion of the front surface of the front panel; a pair of interengageable fastener strips including a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks mounted thereon and a strip having a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops mounted thereon engageable by said hooks, the base of one of said strips being secured to the front surface of said front panel at a location spaced below the upper edge of said front panel, and the base of the other of said strips being secured to the inner surface of said closure flap near the outer end thereof, said fastener strips being engageable with each other to detachably secure said closure flap in a closed position to enclose a sanitary napkin recieved in said recess.
 2. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 1 further including an extension strip extending from the upper edge of each of said side panels and from the associated side edge of the closure flap to the outer end of the closure flap with its outer end secured against the inner surface of said closure flap adjacent a corner thereof.
 3. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 2 further including a reinforcing fold on the outer end of the closure flap folded against the inner surface of the closure flap and overlying the outer ends of said extension strips, the base of said other fastener strip overlying at least a portion of said reinforcing fold and the ends of said extension strips.
 4. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said side panels is pleated to include a pair of folds, one of which extends from the side edge of the rear panel and the other of which extends from the side edge of the front panel to permit said side panels to be folded flat when said bag is empty, and to permit said side panels to extend when a sanitary napkin is inserted into said recess, said extension strip extending from the upper edge of said one fold.
 5. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said front panel includes two portions with overlapping edges at substantially the midportion of said front panel, said overlapping edges being secured together to define a seam.
 6. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 5 further including a bottom flap extending from the bottom edge of said rear panel and folded against the lower front surface of said front panel.
 7. A sanitary napkin holder comprising: a cloth bag made up of a single piece of fabric folded to define a rear panel, a side panel extending from each side edge of the rear panel, a front panel portion extending from the side edge of each side panel opposite the side edge of the rear panel, said front panel portions having overlapping edge portions adhesively secured together to define a front panel having a seam defined by said overlapping portions, a bottom flat extending from the bottom of the rear panel and adhesively secured to the lower front surface of the front panel such that said front, rear and side panels cooperate to define a recess for receiving a sanitary napkin, a closure flap extending from the upper edge of said rear panel, an extension extending from the upper edge of each of said side panels and from the associated side edge of said closure flap with the outer end of each of said extension strips adhesively secured against the inner surface of the closure flap adjacent an outer corner thereof, a reinforcing fold on the outer end of the closure flap folded against the inner surface of the closure flap and overlapping the outer ends of the extension strips and being adhesively secured to said inner surface of the closure flap, and interengageable fastening means on the inner surface of said closure flap and the front surface of said front panel such that the closure flap is foldable across the upper end of said recess and over a portion of the front surface of said front panel in detachable engagement therewith to enclose a sanitary napkin received in said recess.
 8. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interengageable fastening means comprises a pair of flexible fastening strips one of which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the closure flap and the other of which is adhesively secured to the front surface of the front panel.
 9. A sanitary napkin holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of said flexible fastening strips comprises a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible hooks mounted thereon, and the other of said flexible fastening strips comprises a base of flexible material with a plurality of flexible loops mounted thereon and engageable by said hooks. 